21 Deforestation-Mid

Deforestation FOCUS Question What effect does deforestation have on Earth?

What Is Deforestation? Beth visited her grandparents last year. She liked hiking through a forest near their house. She saw lots of trees wild animals and flowering plants. When she went to visit her grandparents this year, much of the forest was gone. In its place was a huge resort with parking lots, cabins, and a large swimming pool. The new resort will be a great place for families to go on vacation. However, the resort took the place of many trees. When large areas of forest are destroyed we call it deforestation. Many people are concerned about deforestation for several reasons. Trees clean the air, and they are important to the water cycle. They help keep the right amounts of water vapor, oxygen, and carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere.

Clearing a forest also wipes out a natural habitat. The animals that lived there must find a new place to live. Some animals find a new home, but others do not. They might get hit by cars or struggle to find food. They might be killed to protect people or pets. Entire plant and animal species can be threatened when too many trees are removed. Deforestation also causes soil erosion. Trees help to keep soil in place. Without trees, wind can blow the soil away. Then new plants cannot grow. Wowser! Earth's forests are being destroyed at an alarming rate. Since 1900, about 90 percent of West Africa's coastal rainforests have been destroyed.

Natural Causes There are many natural causes of deforestation. Forest fires are one common cause. If an area gets little or no rain for a long time, plants dry up and might die. If this dry area is hit by lightning, trees can catch on fire. Flames spread from tree to tree, burning down a lot of forest. Just like people, plants can get sick, too. Plant diseases can spread, causing many trees in an area to die. Other events, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, avalanches, and floods, can kill many trees all at once.

During these natural events, not all of the plants and trees die. These areas can recover. The trees that live can help the forest grow again. Sometimes deforestation can be helpful. Weak trees and plants die, making room for new plants to grow. However, when people cause deforestation, most of the trees are removed or killed. The habitat is changed forever. Think About It Why might firefighters allow a forest fire to burn?

Human Causes People sometimes cause deforestation on purpose. Forests provide many things that people need. Look around the room. Do you see things made from paper and wood? Trees in a forest were cut down to make these things. It would be very hard to go one day without using any products from a forest. Forests are also cut down or burned to clear land for growing crops. Farmers cut down forests to use the land for their animals. Careless people sometimes start large forest fires. It can be difficult and dangerous for firefighters to control the fire.